The 2021 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is looking to be a lot like what we’re used to seeing, with more entertainment expected to be returning.
It was recently noticed that a casting call went out from Disney Live Entertainment looking for Equity performers to play the roles of the Holiday Storytellers in each of the World Showcase countries.
Walt Disney World recently confirmed that the Candlelight Processional will return this year.
It came as no great surprise that Walt Disney World announced yesterday that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Castle Dream Lights, Jingle Bell Jingle BAM! and Candlelight Processional at EPCOT will not be taking place this year. As expected, physical distancing requirements and limitations on mass gatherings make those events impossible to host.
Although the main holiday events will be missing in 2020, Disney did announce that beginning November 6th and running through December 30th this year, guests will still be able to enjoy festive décor, themed merchandise, seasonal food & beverage offerings and entertainment all across Walt Disney World Resort.
In the announcement Walt Disney World stated that the parks will continue the cavalcades that were introduced when the parks re-opened in July, this time with seasonal twists celebrating the holidays. The very popular Toy Soldiers will join the Main Street Philharmonic for one of the seasonal mini-parades at the Magic Kingdom.
When night falls,Disney plans of presenting special projection effects that will give a festive look to Cinderella Castle this year. The appearance of the iconic castle will be transformed with a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater and a regal overlay of red, green and gold ornamentation.
Minnie Mouse will also be hosting a yuletide gathering for all her friends at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning November 6th. Santa Goofy will also be there..
Beginning November 27th, EPCOT will be celebrating highlights from the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Holiday kitchens will be returning around World Showcase promenade with favorites like American Holiday Table featuring Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing and Bavaria Holiday Kitchen with dishes like Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl.
Inside the World Showplace, JOYFUL!, will present a journey through R&B, Gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas and holiday music. Also, the Voices of Liberty will perform at the America Gardens Theatre stage for a special concert of favorite carols and songs of the season.
At the resorts, decor will be on full display, but gingerbread displays will not be present this year.
At Disney Spring snowfall will occur each night within Town Center, West Side and The Landing. In addition, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar will transform into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar with a limited-time menu of festive favorites. The Tree Trail will not be returning, but the trees will be spread throughout the property.
Finally, Santa Claus will wave to guests as he makes pop-up appearances at each park, as well as Disney Springs, but will not be available for meet and greets. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, for example, he will sail down Discovery River on a special flotilla.
What is better than Christmas in July? Christmas in July news for Walt Disney World!
For the first time during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, some Magic Kingdom attractions will be receiving special enhancements just for the holidays!
In Tomorrowland, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor will have a new show as the crew is putting some “Ha Ha Ha” in their “Ho Ho Ho” into the show.
When guests get behind the wheel at the Tomorrowland Speedway, they’ll find that they will be cruising a festive freeway filled with thousands of lights and stylized décor. Space Mountain launches will be launching guests on a trippy jaunt through the cosmos, filled with dazzling lighting and high-energy holiday tunes.
The Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland becomes a wild and wacky Christmas party, as guests spin their teacups to one of four new holiday combos of lights and music.
Also happening will be the brand new “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks” show. Of course there will be plenty of returning favorites like “A Frozen Holiday Wish,” “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration,” “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas,” Club Tinsel, the Disney Junior Jingle Jam and “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” not to mention the complimentary treats and a magical snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A.
Halloween is over, November is here and Disney has announced the performer line ups for the upcoming Holiday TV Specials that will be broadcast on ABC and the Disney Channel.
“The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” premieres Thursday, November 29, from 9–11 PM EST on The ABC Television Network and on the ABC app. Join singer, songwriter and “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors” host Jordan Fisher and “Modern Family” actress Sarah Hyland as they host the magical two-hour event from Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Joined by Disneyland host Jesse Palmer, Disney Parks and ABC will kick off the holiday season with a star-studded prime-time celebration showcasing incredible musical performances, special appearances and Disney magical moments including an extraordinary castle lighting spectacular from Disney Parks around the world – traveling the globe from Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and Anaheim, California, to Paris, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Musical performances include the following stars:
“Disney Parks Presents a 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Party” kicks off Friday, November 23 in the DisneyNOW app and Saturday, December 1, from 8-8:30 PM EST on Disney Channel. Hosted by Jordan Fisher and Disney Channel’s “Coop & Cami Ask the World” stars Ruby Rose Turner and Dakota Lotus, this festive half-hour special will feature star-studded musical performances and special appearances by Disney Channel stars Booboo Stewart (Disney’s “Descendants 3”), Kylee Russell (Disney Channel Original Movie “ZOMBIES”), Sadie Stanley (Disney Channel Original Movie “Kim Possible”) and Sean Giambrone (Disney Channel Original Movie “Kim Possible,” ABC’s “The Goldbergs”). Stanley and Giambrone will take viewers behind the scenes of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, where guests will experience the world of Pixar’s “Cars” films and come face-to-face with Lightning McQueen. The experience rolls into Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in spring 2019.
Musical performances include:
“Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” airs on Tuesday, December 25, from 10 AM until 12 PM EST and 9-11 AM CST/MST/PST on ABC and on the ABC app. Airtimes may vary, so be sure to check local listings.
This Christmas, Disney Parks celebrates the joy of the season as hosts Jordan Fisher and Sarah Hyland share this magical holiday tradition with families around the globe. Co-hosted by Jesse Palmer, the Christmas Day celebration will be merrier than ever before, bringing together the adored Christmas Day parade, special musical performances, surprise celebrity guests and heartwarming family stories to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Joining the festivities as parade correspondents are Freeform’s “grown-ish” actor Trevor Jackson and star of Freeform’s upcoming series “Good Trouble,” Cierra Ramirez.
Musical performances include the following:
Earlier today Walt Disney World announced that the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays this year will take place November 18 thru December 30, 2018.
Even though we have not been able to visit Walt Disney World in November or December for a few years, this time of year has always been a favorite time to visit for me and my family. One of our favorite things to do during this time of the year at Epcot is to attend the Candlelight Processional.
The Candlelight Processional will be returning again this year and for the first time, this popular holiday tradition will debut for the season on Thanksgiving (November 22nd) and run through December 30th.
The Candlelight Processional is a holiday must-do for many Epcot guests. The program is a retelling of the traditional Christmas story read by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a massed choir and live orchestra.
At this time celebrity narrators have not been announced.
Also…even though Candlelight Dinner packages have been popular in the past and are expected to return, Disney has not yet released any information regarding this.
A couple of months ago Disney announced the dates for this year’s “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party“.
#DisneyParksLIVE is celebrating the holiday season at Disneyland this Thursday, November 30th, with a live stream of “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular!
The holidays have begun at the Disneyland Resort, and Holidays at the Disneyland Resort is in full swing, with returning favorites such as “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks, “A Christmas Fantasy” parade and Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at Disneyland park; and Festival of Holidays, including Disney ¡Viva Navidad! and “World of Color – Winter Dreams” at Disney California Adventure park. There is even new festive holiday decor at Downtown Disney District and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
Tune in for the live stream of “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular November 30th beginning at 8:40 p.m. PST, and find out how you can participate in the live stream yourself on the Disney Parks Blog and on Twitter at @DisneyParks!
From the Disney Parks Blog
The first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will take place tomorrow November 9th at the Magic Kingdom, and Disney has posted all the entertainment schedules and treat locations to help your planning.
There is a new twist this year, with the park closing to day guests at 6pm.
Complimentary treats are available until midnight at:
With the holiday season just around the corner, the Walt Disney World Resort is quickly becoming a winter wonderland. Interested in learning the secrets behind this magical, festive transformation? The Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy and Disney’s Holiday D-Lights tours offer the chance to go behind the scenes of the astonishing annual decorating efforts throughout the Theme Parks and Resorts.
Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy takes you backstage to learn just how Walt Disney World Resort gets dressed up for the holiday season and watch the “elves” themselves, the cast members of Holiday Services at work. From holiday celebrations around the world at Epcot to the traditional trimmings of Main Street U.S.A. you don’t want to miss this dazzling wonderland of holiday secrets.
Disney’s Holiday D-Lights is offered on 12 select nights throughout the season. Meet with Event & Decorating Support cast members and discover how some of the most cherished holiday customs are brought to light at Epcot and Magic Kingdom Park. Learn how they decorate Cinderella Castlewith thousands of twinkling lights and experience the iconic Candlelight Processional.
Don’t miss out on unwrapping the holiday magic! Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy and Disney’s Holiday D-Lights are only offered seasonally throughout November and December. Call 407-WDW-Tour for reservations.
Can you put a price on Christmas happiness at the theme parks? Disney can, and it’s packaged up as a hotel and park ticket deal called Ultimate Disney Christmas.
The new deal is for stays at select Disney hotels from Dec. 21-26 that include four days of theme park tickets and access to special events.
The price for all of this can run a family of four as low as $139 per person per night or a total of $2,775, according to Disney’s website. That’s specifically if a room at Coronado Springs Resort was booked and the price is for two adults, one child ages 10-17 and one child ages 3-9.
Other price points quoted include $3,721 for that same family to stay at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa or $3,777 for stays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
While exactly which rooms at which resorts beyond these three aren’t listed, it does include select moderate, deluxe or deluxe villa resort options. It excludes three-bedroom villas, the Cabins at Copper Creek Villas, Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
Each person gets a four-day theme park ticket with Park Hopper option. It also includes tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom on Dec. 21, exclusive night access to Disney’s new Pandora — The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom on Dec. 22, a character experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Dec. 23, Christmas Eve dinner at Epcot and a holiday gift in your room on Christmas Day.
While the deal does include the tickets, which are designed to work with the crammed holiday itinerary, they technically don’t need to be used until Dec. 31, 2018, and all four days need to be used within 14 days of the first use. Check in is Thursday, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is that night. Check out is Tuesday, the day after Christmas.
Details can be found at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/ultimate-christmas/details/ but booking has to be done before Dec. 10 and either through a travel agent or by calling Disney vacation help at 407-939-7886.
Walt Disney World has completed its line-up for the celebrity narrators for this year’s Candlelight Processional at Epcot.
Disney Legend Kurt Russell, who has starred in Disney films from the 1960s to 2017’s “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” will read the Christmas story this year – as well as gold- and silver-medal-winning gymnast Laurie Hernandez. Two veterans of the event – actress/comedienne Ana Gasteyer and Jodi Benson, voice of Ariel in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” – complete this year’s list.
As previously announced, new narrators for this year’s lineup include Matt Bomer (“White Collar,” “The Last Tycoon,”); Star Wars fan favorite Warwick Davis, who played Wicket the Ewok in “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi;” Daytime Television Legend Pat Sajak and TV star CCH Pounder, who was recently at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the grand opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar.
And returning this year are everyone’s favorite hard-driving Dr. Bailey from “Grey’s Anatomy,” Chandra Wilson – and newly-named Disney Legend Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of ABC’s “The View.”
Below is the full list of narrators:
The Candlelight Processional is performed three times every night (5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 PM) during the holiday season at the America Gardens Theatre. Dinner packages are available which include meal and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances.
In addition to the lunch and dinner packages, breakfast options are again available at some restaurants in and near Epcot such as Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and The Garden Grill. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options are also available this year at Captain’s Grille at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, with breakfast and dinner options being offered at Trattoria Al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk.
Candlelight Dining Packages for breakfast start at $35 plus tax per person for adults and $21 plus tax per person for children, ages 3-9. Candlelight Dining Packages for lunch and dinner start at $44 plus tax per person for adults and $15.50 plus tax per person for children, ages 3-9.
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays which includes the Candlelight Processional, takes place in 2017 from November 24 – December 30 at Epcot.
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